Apertura Quarterfinal Shock: 2nd and 3rd Seeds Eliminated

The semifinal lineup is now set, with some major surprises unfolding. Second-seeded Toluca secured a 4-0 victory over Club América in their final regular-season match, only to be knocked out in the quarterfinals after back-to-back losses to Las Águilas. Meanwhile, the rematch between Pumas and Monterrey turned into a thrilling goal-fest.

Toluca (0)0-2(4) Club América

Los Diablos Rojos were one of the standout sides in the regular season. A record only beaten by Cruz Azul as many tipped Renato Paiva's side to reach the final of the Liguilla.

Although América triumphed in the opening leg in the capital, Toluca boasted an unbeaten record at home in the Estadio Nemesio Diez and remained the favorites to eliminate the reigning champions.

The Toluca fans rallied behind their team, with large banners and fireworks lighting up the atmosphere. Tensions flared early when a screw was thrown towards América goalkeeper Luís Malagón at the start of the match.

Toluca came out strong in the first half. Paulinho missed a header over the bar, and later, Malagón was forced into an outstretched save to deny Federico Pereira. The best chance of the half came in added time, when América were pinned back in their own half. Alexis Vega delivered a deep ball into the box, finding Marcel Ruiz in acres of space, but the promising midfielder failed to direct his effort on goal. All of their work in the first half led to nothing with both sides heading into the break goalless, with the advantage favouring Club América.

Club América launched a rare counterattack at the start of the second half, with Brian Rodríguez leading the charge. With limited options, the Uruguayan aimed a cross into the box for Rodrigo Aguirre, but the ball was intercepted by Ruiz. In a stroke of fortune, Ruiz's interception found the back of the net, beating Tiago Volpi in the Toluca goal.

With América now leading by three goals, Toluca faced a daunting challenge in trying to turn the tie around. The goal gave América a surge of confidence, and just moments later, they doubled their lead for the night. Henry Martín was on hand to convert from close range, further tightening their grip on the match.

Now trailing by four goals, Toluca resigned themselves to defeat, despite creating a few late chances for a consolation goal. The situation worsened when Pereira was shown a second yellow card, further dampening their hopes. Los Diablos Rojos limped out of the competition, falling short of their status as one of the favourites to dethrone Club América.

Cruz Azul (3)3-0(3) Tijuana

Los Xolos stunned everyone with a completely dominant performance in the first leg against the top-seeded side in the Liguilla. They took a commanding advantage into the capital, leaving their opponents with a steep hill to climb.

Cruz Azul may have been stunned in the first leg, but with no extra time or penalties in these ties, all they needed was to match Tijuana's first-leg score to secure qualification. Determined to avoid an embarrassing exit, La Máquina came out with intent. Ignacio Rivero came close in the opening minutes with a curling effort that swerved just wide of the post. At the other end, Tijuana nearly sealed their upset, but Christian Rivera’s shot was denied by a strong save from fellow Colombian Kevin Mier.

Rivero, who had narrowly missed earlier, made no mistake with his next chance. Rodolfo Rotondi delivered a low cross into the box, and the ball fell perfectly for the 32-year-old to head home, giving Cruz Azul a vital lifeline. However, they still had work to do in the second half to secure their place against Club América in the semifinal.

The mission became clearer early in the second half, and ten minutes after the restart, Cruz Azul added their second. A scrappy defensive clearance fell to Giorgos Giakoumakis, who made no mistake in slotting the ball into the net, completing the comeback and edging La Máquina closer to the final four.

Cruz Azul kept up the pressure and found their breakthrough in the 74th minute. Veteran Ángel Sepúlveda calmly slotted the ball home, completing the remontada and sealing their dramatic comeback.

Read More

- Liga MX Apertura Quarterfinal First Leg Review: Major Shocks & Surprises with all Top Four Seeded Sides Losing
- Which teams make up the Liga MX Apertura playoffs?
- Apertura Play-In: Four Teams Competing for the Final Two Spots in the Playoffs

Pumas (3)3-5(6) Monterrey

These encounters are often low-scoring affairs, with more than one goal scored in just two of the last five meetings. However, this quarterfinal second leg delivered the excitement fans had been longing for.

Pumas entered the match with a slight advantage from their league position, knowing a narrow 1-0 win would be enough to send them through.

The drama began on the half-hour mark when Germán Berterame gave Monterrey the lead, doubling their aggregate advantage. Pumas quickly found a lifeline, though, as Guillermo Martínez netted to bring the scoreline to 1-2 heading into halftime.

Monterrey struck again in the second half through former Sevilla midfielder Lucas Ocampos, but Pumas refused to back down. Ignacio Pussetto’s goal reignited their hopes, leaving them just one goal away from advancing.

Despite Pumas' relentless pressing, Berterame secured his brace to restore a two-goal aggregate cushion. Gerardo Arteaga effectively sealed the tie in the 77th minute, making it 5-2 on aggregate.

Pumas had one last surge, with Martínez scoring his second of the game, leaving them needing two more goals. However, Monterrey slammed the door shut in the final moments as Óliver Torres scored his first goal for the club, wrapping up a 6-3 aggregate victory.

After a dull first leg, the second leg came alive, with Los Rayados booking their spot in the semifinals, where they await the winner of San Luis or Tigres—potentially setting up another Clásico Norteño.

Tigres (0)0-0(3) Atletico de San Luis

San Luis earned the title of "giant killers" this season, having handed Cruz Azul its only defeat of the campaign and beaten all three teams already qualified for the Liguilla semifinals. Heading into the first leg, the only playoff team to have defeated them was Tigres, but San Luis emphatically overturned that narrative with a commanding 3-0 victory.

Tigres, who finished higher in the regular season, needed to replicate Cruz Azul's dramatic comeback from the night before to secure a semifinal clash with their city rivals, Monterrey.

They began with intent but failed to trouble San Luis in the first half, as both sides went into the break with the score unchanged.

Tigres were handed a lifeline 20 minutes from time when Diego Lainez was brought down by the onrushing Andrés Sánchez, who escaped a red card. Up stepped Tigres' all-time leading scorer, André-Pierre Gignac, but the Frenchman’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Sánchez, a pivotal moment that could have either sparked a Tigres revival or sealed their fate.

As the clock ticked down, Tigres continued to press, but the best chance fell to San Luis. Óscar Macías broke through on goal, only to be denied by a sharp save from Nahuel Guzmán.

When the final whistle blew, San Luis celebrated back-to-back clean sheets and a historic progression to the semifinals. Their victory sets up a clash with Monterrey, leaving Tigres to rue missed opportunities and an early exit.

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